National Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

This month, the world comes together to raise awareness for bullying prevention and to reflect on where we have been, where we are now, and where we hope to be in the years to come.

This month serves as a reminder that bullying prevention must be addressed, and one way to accomplish this is through educating ourselves, our communities and the youth in our lives.

These efforts are highly important for parents and teachers, but also for youth themselves.

Here at Nance, we encourage students to:

Things to do when seeing someone getting teased, involved in a mean moment, or bullied:

Stand up for the person.

Invite that person to play elsewhere.

Comfort the person. Remind them they don’t deserve that treatment.

Be their friend.

Tell the bully to “Stop”. “Bullying isn’t cool!”

Use an I statement. I feel……

Talk it out.Teach them the rules.

Ask a friend to speak up with you if this is hard to do.

Let others know you don't like what you see. Turn around and walk away.

Help kids who do bully, don't hurt them back.

Be aware. Don't be a bystander. If you see teasing, a mean moment, or bullying, do something about it. It can all stop when we all get involved.

Report what is happening.

Get adult help.

The following information can be found at stopbullying.gov

Children at Risk of Being Bullied

Generally, children who are bullied have one or more of the following risk factors:

Are perceived as different from their peers, such as being overweight or underweight, wearing glasses or different clothing, being new to a school, or being unable to afford what kids consider “cool”

Are perceived as weak or unable to defend themselves

Are depressed, anxious, or have low self esteem

Are less popular than others and have few friends

Do not get along well with others, seen as annoying or provoking, or antagonize others for attention

However, even if a child has these risk factors, it doesn’t mean that they will be bullied.

Children More Likely to Bully Others

There are two types of kids who are more likely to bully others:

Some are well-connected to their peers, have social power, are overly concerned about their popularity, and like to dominate or be in charge of others.

Others are more isolated from their peers and may be depressed or anxious, have low self esteem, be less involved in school, be easily pressured by peers, or not identify with the emotions or feelings of others.

Children who have these factors are also more likely to bully others;

Are aggressive or easily frustrated

Have less parental involvement or having issues at home

Think badly of others

Have difficulty following rules

View violence in a positive way

Have friends who bully others

Remember, those who bully others do not need to be stronger or bigger than those they bully. The power imbalance can come from a number of sources—popularity, strength, cognitive ability—and children who bully may have more than one of these characteristics.

Signs a Child is Being Bullied

Look for changes in the child. However, be aware that not all children who are bullied exhibit warning signs.

Some signs that may point to a bullying problem are:

Unexplainable injuries

Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry

Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness

Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.

Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares

Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school

Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations

Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem

Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide

If you know someone in serious distress or danger, don’t ignore the problem.

Signs a Child is Bullying Others

Kids may be bullying others if they:

Get into physical or verbal fights

Have friends who bully others

Are increasingly aggressive

Get sent to the principal’s office or to detention frequently

Have unexplained extra money or new belongings

Blame others for their problems

Don’t accept responsibility for their actions

Are competitive and worry about their reputation or popularity

Sonny & Allegra Nance Elementary

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